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Over
the years, small-town newspapers have found it necessary to supplement
the local news with other sources of material to help fill up their
pages. In the old days, when there weren’t a lot of newsworthy events
taking place, the local paper would fill space with features or magazine-type
material.
Way back in 1924, The Moulton Eagle (Moulton,
Texas) was presenting a column called “Tales of the Old Frontier”
which was written by a fellow named Scott Watson. It is probable that
the paper subscribed to an outside source and received this article
on a weekly basis. I found Watson’s stories to be entertaining but
in some cases not exactly “historically accurate.”
However, the following story about Judge
Roy Bean is quite humorous and is the subject of this month’s
Lone Star Diary. |
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“Law West Of
The Pecos”
The Moulton
Eagle – March 21, 1924
You
will look in vain for Eagle’s Nest on the map of Texas
today, for the town of Langtry
(named for Lillie Langtry of theatrical renown) has taken its place.
But in the old days of 40 years ago Eagle’s Nest was famed for just
one thing – a saloon. On the front of this building was a sign which
read “Judge Roy Bean,
Justice of the Peace, Law West of the Pecos.”
For this “red eye” emporium was also the temple of justice for a domain
of thousands of square miles, and over it ruled Roy
Bean, a king in his own right, whose scepter was a Colt .45-caliber
pistol. He was the only justice of the peace in western
Texas and he was equipped only with a copy of the Ohio statutes
of ancient vintage, a sense of fair play and a strong belief in his
ability to interpret the law as it should be, whether it was written
that way or not.
He was judge, jury and lord high executioner and there was no appeal
from his decisions.
Once two Mexican couples came to him and announced that they wanted
to trade life partners. The judge questioned them closely, found them
all of the same mind, charged each of the men $15 and a dozen bottles
of beer and pronounced the job done. Some time later a state official
complained to Bean that
in granting this unconventional divorce he had exceeded his authority.
“Why, say!” exclaimed His Honor indignantly. “Have I ever butted into
your affairs? They wanted to swap, they paid me, they’re livin’ perfectly
happy and nobody ‘round here has found fault. You just go back to
Austin and handle your courts
the way you want, but this is out of your jurisdiction.”
Judge Bean’s “Law West
of the Pecos” was uniformly profitable for him. One day an eastern
tourist entered his saloon and ordered a bottle of beer. He laid down
a $20 gold piece which Bean
promptly pocketed.
The tenderfoot demanded his change and upon being denied it started
an argument. “Court’s in session,” announced the judge immediately.
“That beer cost you 50 cents and you’re fined $19.50 for disturbing
the peace!”
© Murray
Montgomery
Lone
Star Diary October
11, 2010 Column
See Langtry,
Texas |
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